Getting the proprietary nvidia driver to run with Debian 3.0 r0 (woody)

[Katchina404]

Hoy all,

This has probably been addressed before, but I feel in the mood to share my little but hardly-acquired knowledge. I've spent the last few days configuring Nvidia GeForce 2 boards (PCI and AGP versions) on two Debian 3.0 r0 installations, and here's a short guide on how I did it...

This _should_ work with any TNT2 or GeForce 256/2/3/4 based board. I used kernel 2.2.20, and XFree86 4.1. (?) for this.

Wether you have similar settings or not, let us know if you run into problems that are not covered here.


0. Prerequisites

Make sure you have X (Version 4.x) properly configured, and the needed 3D libraries installed, before following this guide. I'm no expert, I can't tell you wether having these libraries _before_ installing the drivers help. But it's the way I went.

Basically, what I did is get X to run, then use dselect to install the tuxracer package (small game where Tux slides down some icy hills). The needed packages are selected in the proccess, inlduing some X version of the Mesa 3D libraries.

If someone can give more in-depth details regarding the different Mesa 3D libraries, feel free.


1. Get the Nvidia files

First of all, get the two needed files from Nvidia : the GLX driver and the kernel driver. Their current locations is :
GLX : http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86_4....0-2960.tar.gz
kernel : http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86_4....0-2960.tar.gz

You need now to uncompress these archives. Do this by chmoding to the directory where you just saved them. Then run tar xzvf <file_name> with both files


2. Compilation and installation of the kernel driver

Third step : compile and install the kernel driver module. Chmod to the newly created NVIDIA_kernel... directory. Then type the command "make install".

You may receive an error message regarding different compiler version. If your GCC version is close enough to what was used to compile the kernel, you may ignore this by editing the Makefile that's located in the directory. Simply add the following line at the beggining of the file :
IGNORE_CC_MISMATCH=true

You may receive an error message that ends with something like "nv.c:22: linux/modversions.h: No such file or directory". That means you need to install the appropriate kernel headers files before compiling the driver. This can be done with dselect, but first you need to find out the version of your kernel with the command :
cat /proc/version
Then launch dselect (type in the command dselect). If you need a small introduction to dselect, I suggest the dselect Documentation for Beginners, available at http://www.debian.org/releases/slink...inner.en.html.
In dselect, search for your kernel headers package (use /, then type in headers, then press enter; use \ to cycle through results). When you have selected your package, install it and exit dselect.

You may now receive an error message stating that some file cannot be found. Basically, the Nvidia driver installation looks for the kernel headers in /usr/src/linux, while they are somewhere in /usr/src/kernel-XXXX (XXXX being some version number).
Go to /usr/src, locate your kernel-XXX directory, and then create a symlink called linux to that kernel-XXXX. This is done by typing :
ln -s /usr/src/linux /usr/src/kernel-XXX

Finally, the "make install" command should give you good results.


3. Installation of the GLX driver

Now chmod to your NVIDIA_GLX... directory, and run "make install" as well. This should no get you into much trouble.


4. Edit your XF86Config-4 file

Use vi, or your favorite file editor, to do this. I hate vi, but it's the only one available on pretty much any Unix flavor, even with very minimalist installs. Bit I'm disgressing.
You want to look for the module section and make sure that the follwong line appears :
load "glx"
You also want to remove (or comment out with #) the following lines :
load "dri"
load "GLcore"
then go to the Device section (pick the relevant one if you have many fo them, like in case of multi-headed setups), and replace the Driver "nv" (or Driver "vesa") line with this :
Driver "nvidia"


5. Testing all this

I usually reboot after doing this. See, I come from the Windows world... Seriously though, as we add a kernel module, I suspect it is needed to reboot and reload the kernel. Experts may prove me wrong on that, I'm all for corrections of this information.

When X starts you'll have a Nvidia splash screen (white backgroung, usual green "eye" Nividia logo, and black Nvidia text). This is a good sign.

Now try running TuxRacer (you did install it, right ?) or some other OpenGL game, and see for yourself.


6. So now what ?

Well, I hope this will help newbies like me to get their 3D boards to run under Linux. As stated before, if there's any extra info to add, be sure to let me know : jerome.buyle@madcow404.com. Who knows, I may find enough inspiration to maintain this kind of "Nvidia with Debian 3.0 mini-howto" embryo and turn it into something more useful to everyone.


Yours,

Jerome

[Klaus-P]

Jerome wrote:

" Use vi, or .....
See, I come from the Windows world... "

Excellently stated!!! ;-)

Cheers

just hope it's not offending ;-)

BTW good post, i simply couldn't resist
to post this comment!

[Katchina404]

Hmmm, I don't exactly get it... Must be cultural misunderstanding... Is it so funny that someone switching recently from Windows goes as far as using vi, or what ?
Oh, by the way, did I mention that I _love_ Apple machines... Too darn expensive, but so cute ;-) !

the "debian way":

1- get packages for nvidia drivers:
apt-get install nvidia-kernel-src nvidia-glx-src

these packages doesn't contain the drivers, but they will assist download and compilation.

packages in woody install version 2880 of nvidia drivers.
if you want the latest version, get debs from here:
http://packages.debian.org/cgi-bin/s...le&release=all
and install them with dpkg -i

2- RTFM:
follow instructions in:
/usr/doc/nvidia-kernel-src/README.Debian
and:
/usr/doc/nvidia-glx-src/README.Debian
getting the drivers, compiling them: all is automatic! and it makes packages (easily upgradable or removable)

note you must have kernel headers or source for your running kernel to compile the kernel module .

then modify your XF86Config-4 file with vi , your favorite editor
nvidia readme is in: /usr/doc/nvidia-glx/README.gz)
that's all!

note that kernel-package contains great tools (make-kpkg) to compile kernels and make debs with them.

[Katchina404]

Why, oh why, didn't I know this before !
Aaah, being able to integrate the Nvidia driver installation with the reste of the Debian packages architecture...
Anyone with more info for a Debian newbie ? Good books or ressources ?

Hi botio!

the Debian Way.

THat's it!

Thanks

Ronald Hitz
Hamburg,
Germany

Originally posted by Katchina404
Why, oh why, didn't I know this before !
Aaah, being able to integrate the Nvidia driver installation with the reste of the Debian packages architecture...
Anyone with more info for a Debian newbie ? Good books or ressources ?

Hi,

in Germany we have the oncoming Linux Magazin11/2002 , where an article about that theme is advertised.
Maybe they have the same in English, where You live.

Hope, that helps

Ronald Hitz

[Klaus-P]

"Good books or ressources ?"

If you want to learn more about some basic features of modules, drivers, etc...
and you have at least a bit of basic knowledge on the C-programming language
read the book _The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide_ by Ori Pomerantz.
Perhaps it's also contained in your WOODY (woody?)-Linux CDs as a pdf-file.
You will be able to write, compile and load your own kernel module -
well very simple examples - after a short time.

[Katchina404]

Hello,

As a follow-up to a previous message, here is a mini-HOWTO that I'm putting together :
http://www.madcow404.com/buyle/Nvidi...ebian_3_0.html
Let me know how it works for you all !

Jerome

[kal]

Originally posted by botio
the "debian way":

1- get packages for nvidia drivers:
apt-get install nvidia-kernel-src nvidia-glx-src

these packages doesn't contain the drivers, but they will assist download and compilation.

packages in woody install version 2880 of nvidia drivers.
if you want the latest version, get debs from here:
http://packages.debian.org/cgi-bin/s...le&release=all
and install them with dpkg -i

2- RTFM:
follow instructions in:
/usr/doc/nvidia-kernel-src/README.Debian
and:
/usr/doc/nvidia-glx-src/README.Debian
getting the drivers, compiling them: all is automatic! and it makes packages (easily upgradable or removable)

note you must have kernel headers or source for your running kernel to compile the kernel module .

then modify your XF86Config-4 file with vi , your favorite editor
nvidia readme is in: /usr/doc/nvidia-glx/README.gz)
that's all!

note that kernel-package contains great tools (make-kpkg) to compile kernels and make debs with them.

got an issue with the fine manual here..... step 6 says:

6. Then build nvidia-kernel package:

cd <YOUR BUILD LOCATION>/modules/nvidia-kernel-1.0.4191
debian/rules binary_modules

that doens't really figure ...ive got debhelper but sadly ive got no idea how to build a deb or use it.

also, i prefer vim.